While reading some of my favorite fitness blogs, I ran into something a little disturbing.
It smelled like a new hustle being unleashed on the already beleaguered, fitness-conscious masses. I thought that -- until recently -- the whole "next big thing" campaign of the fitness industry had slowed. Disinformation seemed to be the norm and we had become relatively immune to the money-sucking schemes shown 24hr / day on infomercials on our favorite networks. We've learned to read between the lines of our favorite magazines and recognize more clumsy attempts to fool us into purchasing the latest device for the low, low price of three payments of $19.99 with money back guarantee.
Suddenly, it seems as if everyone is on the bandwagon to create the latest video collection and get all of us to buy it. Another other "body weight only" workout hits the streets. This latest fad can be identified by the following characteristics:
- No gym required
- Follow a video of progressively more difficult movements with virtually no rest periods
- Very little equipment required
- Dramatic short-term effects - (because you're actually up off of your duff)
- Somewhat painful (at least very uncomfortable)
- Guarantee that you'll burn fat and build muscle simultaneously (where have we heard this before?)
This puppy will even let you use your TRX exercises and it advertises itself that way along with the ever-alluring promise of a six-pack.
Why is everyone all of the sudden interested in body weight exercises?
They aren't some new discovery and they still require effort to learn. Here is a little secret. Many of us started with body weight exercises until we hit a plateau.
Then we added weights to keep moving up the curve. Unless you plan to keep gaining weight, how do you achieve any sort of progressive overload?
Does anyone out there think that they will be able to get stronger year after year by limiting themselves to only body weight exercises?
Isn't the goal to literally have the strength to weight ratio of an insect?
Well, maybe that isn't everyone's goal. At the very least our logic should dictate that there will come a point of diminishing returns with these types of routines that will require a new strategy to keep what was gained.
Will anyone ever get beyond the short-term goal syndrome we see in the fitness industry today?
I think as long as we buy into these products, they will continue to pop up.
I get it. I get it. People have to make a living and times are hard. Like anything, I am sure it will work if the directions are followed. The problem is that the copy write reads like they've just discovered the greatest fitness epiphany since periodization. I must admit that I am a bit disappointed; I will research the package further before I drop the blog from my reading list.
Why is everyone all of the sudden interested in body weight exercises?
They aren't some new discovery and they still require effort to learn. Here is a little secret. Many of us started with body weight exercises until we hit a plateau.
Then we added weights to keep moving up the curve. Unless you plan to keep gaining weight, how do you achieve any sort of progressive overload?
Does anyone out there think that they will be able to get stronger year after year by limiting themselves to only body weight exercises?
Isn't the goal to literally have the strength to weight ratio of an insect?
Well, maybe that isn't everyone's goal. At the very least our logic should dictate that there will come a point of diminishing returns with these types of routines that will require a new strategy to keep what was gained.
Will anyone ever get beyond the short-term goal syndrome we see in the fitness industry today?
I think as long as we buy into these products, they will continue to pop up.
I get it. I get it. People have to make a living and times are hard. Like anything, I am sure it will work if the directions are followed. The problem is that the copy write reads like they've just discovered the greatest fitness epiphany since periodization. I must admit that I am a bit disappointed; I will research the package further before I drop the blog from my reading list.
Opinions of this latest craze are welcome, please Google it for yourself.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment